A Council of the Ministers of Culture of South Eastern Europe was founded yesterday in Copenhagen, consisting of the member countries Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey, Romania and Serbia-Montenegro. The Council's aim is to intensify cultural cooperation in the region and raise it to the state level.
On behalf of Serbia, the inaugural Charter was signed by Serbian Minister of Culture Dragan Kojadinovic.
The Council ministers will meet at least once a year, while the preparation of meetings, organisation and realisation of projects will be carried out by a committee consisting of representatives of the culture ministries of the Council's member states.
The Council will have a Secretariat responsible for administration issues and tasks related to presentation and media relations. The Council has been organised after the pattern of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Representatives of Nordic countries rightfully described the signing of the Charter of the Ministers of Culture of South Eastern Europe as an historical act because following the misfortunes and war conflicts that have taken place in the Balkans for centuries, this is an indication of a new future of European and world integration.